More drama in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has suspended its national team from Test cricket until next year.

A decision by the sport's interim board was announced in Harare on Wednesday.

The immediate implication is the abandonment of the two-Test tour to the Caribbean scheduled for April-May.

However, Zimbabwe is hopeful its five one-day internationals can still be played.

The interim board's chairman Peter Chingoka said: "While the side goes through the programme to prepare it adequately for the rigours of Test cricket, Zimbabwe Cricket has no doubt that the team will be competitive in his ODI commitments under the Future Tours Programme."

He is hopeful the team would resume its Test status for its tour to Sri Lanka in February next year.

Zimbabwe has suspended its Test cricket before, in 2004, and this time is confident that while its two top teams have had poor performances recently, the young players have the potential and hopes are high that they will develop into competitive performers in the Test arena.

A statement from the Zimbabwe Board said: "Zimbabwe Cricket is now putting in place a programme to galvanise the development of the Zimbabwe squads. It will work with other Test nations and the ICC itself to realise this objective."